Sunday, March 9, 2014

The True Blessings of Job

Job 1:11
 
11But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"
 
Many seek the book of Job when financial trouble hits. They see themselves as walking the road and in the shoes that Job had walked. But the entire premise of Job's trial was because he had been faithful to God, serving and doing what God had asked of him. The trial was not because Job had faltered, not because Job was proud and lacked humility, not because Job was disobedient. Job was a model of what God desires of us all in the body of Christ.  Satan attacked Job's character because in his deceitful eyes, Job was only serving God because God had blessed him immensely. Satan wanted to prove that if God allowed Satan to remove all that Job had been blessed with not just financially but the love of those he held dear, Job would no longer serve Him. Indeed, a character assassination, defamation of character, presumption and outright lie. God knew that no matter what, Job would still call Him God, Abba, Jehovah Jireh. Job's family was struck, his property, finances and his health, but Satan was not allowed to kill him. When God is under attack, you are part of His family so that means you also come under attack. It's a covenant, taking the bad along with the good. But if you really read the book of Job, for the majority of the book, Job is at the point of despair where he wishes God would just take him in order to spare him the pain. He would rather die than to curse the God whom he loves. Job spends the bulk of the book defending himself against the very ones who are supposed to comfort him. Again, the character assassinations and presumptions. During the scolding of Job by his friends and family, not once do you notice them seeking God on Job's behalf, interceding, or asking God how they are to comfort their friend Job. They are responding to Job's despair based on human factors and their own knowledge. Isaiah 55:8 says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord."  Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Job's friends and family did exactly the opposite. When God answered Job's questions to shed light, He reminded him that He has ALL power. In the end, Job forgave and prayed for those who hurt him during his trial. He still interceded out of love for them though they were speaking to Job in their arrogance. It takes a lot to pray for those who have hurt you. Because your prayer has to be from a place of love at all times for God to receive it. Many people want the blessing but don't want to take the trial that comes before the blessing. So with it I say, are you sure you want to know the true blessings of Job?
 
Thank you to my loving Pastor, Rev. Medric C. Mills, III  who recently preached on Job from a different place to shed light and to my loving Assistant Pastor, Prophetess Rev. Williams to shed light on what it means to take the cuts.